Scotch College

VCE 2005 - the human side of scholastic achievement

Scotch’s Class of 2005 VCE results were outstanding, with three students scoring 99.95, 25 students scoring 99.00 or higher (9.9% of the class), 127 students scoring 90.00 or higher (50.2% of the class), and 187 students scoring 80.00 or higher (73.9% of the class).

The median score was 90.00 (compared with 89.4 in 2004 and 90.30 in 2003), and 23 students achieved subject scores of 50.

The statistics tell an excellent story of scholastic achievement, but they don’t reveal the human side of VCE – the difficult task our Year 12 students face of balancing study commitments with sport, music, social activities and family life; of hopes, aspirations, anguish and triumph; of determination – and sometimes devastation and even despair when the results don’t meet expectations.

The stunning VCE results achieved by the three equal duxes of the School – Andrew Currie, Stephen Muirhead and Christopher Sia – all of whom scored 99.95 and were awarded undergraduate scholarships by the University of Melbourne – are a source of justifiable pride for the boys, their families and the School.

There are many other boys who excelled, others who exceeded their own expectations, and the great majority who balanced life and study commitments successfully to achieve the results they wanted – or were ultimately satisfied with a second or third choice. Some with special talents or abilities were challenged to deal with the demands that those gifts placed on them, while still striving for academic excellence. A minority of students had to handle the burden of ill-health.

Great Scot recently spoke to six 2005 VCE students – the three duxes, and three other students who faced special challenges in their VCE year, one of whom overcame ill-health to earn a place in Arts at Melbourne University.

Andrew Currie achieved perfect scores (50) in Literature and French. At School he was a Prefect, editor of The Scotch Collegian and Captain of Debating, as well as being involved in social service. ‘It is, of course, very easy to get involved in a variety of activities when you’re at Scotch – it’s exactly what the school encourages,’ Andrew told Great Scot. He said he was genuinely shocked to see his VCE mark. ‘I kept on checking it to make sure my eyes hadn’t been deceived. Just getting into the uni course seemed tough enough!’ He said last year’s study ‘didn’t feel like cramming’, because ‘everyone’s very aware of what’s expected in Year 12, so you don’t face undue pressure.’ This year Andrew is studying Arts/Law at Melbourne University, taking French and English in the BA degree. He plans to relax by seeing friends and reading, and would like to go on an exchange during university, and perhaps even live overseas some time in the future.

Stephen Muirhead achieved perfect scores in specialist mathematics and physics, having already achieved a perfect score in mathematical methods in the 2004 VCE. At School he was a Prefect, a member of the 1st badminton team and 1st soccer XI, a cadet under officer and a member of the A1 debating team. Stephen said he always believed that he was going to do ‘reasonably well’ in VCE, ‘especially at a school like Scotch where if you perform well at the school-based assessment, then you will compare favourably to the rest of the state. But, of course as soon as you get complacent in the world of VCE you lose out, and I definitely worked hard to do so well.’ Stephen is studying Science/Law at Melbourne University, plans to continue debating and playing soccer, and has joined several uni clubs, because he wants to be ‘as involved as possible’. He is also considering an overseas student exchange in the future.

Christopher Sia achieved perfect scores in chemistry, English, specialist mathematics and physics, and, like Stephen, obtained a perfect score in mathematical methods in the 2004 VCE. At School, Christopher was Vice-Captain of Table Tennis, a member of the Chamber Choir, and principal trumpet in the Scotch Symphony Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Show Band. Christopher said he was hoping to do well in VCE, but ‘I didn’t expect to do that well!’. He is studying Medicine at the University of Melbourne and is starting to contemplate a specialist medical field in the future. Away from his medical studies he relaxes by playing cricket and soccer. During the summer holidays he taught English in China, but has no immediate plans to travel overseas again.

Nick Tuxen was number one tennis player at Scotch in his final two years at School. He was Co-Captain of tennis in 2005, played in the 1st tennis team for four years, and was ranked in the top eight players in the APS. Tennis was important to Nick but so was study, and his VCE result complemented his ability as a tennis player to the extent that he won a tennis scholarship to St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, USA. This will involve him in about 20 trips around the US each year, playing tennis – but his Finance/Banking studies will be just as important: an academic adviser will accompany the touring tennis group to make sure they don’t fall behind in their studies. Nick’s ambition is to become good enough to join the professional tennis circuit, but his degree will serve him in good stead if that ambition isn’t realised.

Ed Barlow enjoyed a very full school life. A boarder from Bega in NSW, he was a member of the 1st XVIII in 2004 and 2005, was also in the athletics team, and played touch rugby. Ed was a Probationer and Vice-Captain of Eggleston House and, like Andrew Currie, participated in Scotch After Care on Thursdays. Late last year the Sydney Swans drafted Ed onto their rookie list, and at the time of writing he had just played his first game for his new club – two quarters of an NAB Cup pre-season game against the Kangaroos in Canberra. He is currently living in Sydney with two Swans team-mates, whom he describes as ‘two good blokes who have made me feel at home’, and is enjoying the football lifestyle. Ed gained a place in Hospitality Management at Melbourne’s William Angliss Institute of TAFE, and has deferred his course while pursuing a football career.

Lachie Fraser, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, had to spend 10 days in hospital around Easter 2005 where, as he says, ‘the atmosphere wasn’t really conducive to work. However, the Scotch teachers were pretty accommodating, so it didn’t cause too much trouble.’ Happily, Lachie says he is now ‘doing pretty well, health wise. I’ve just got to keep working on my general fitness.’ At School, Lachie was a Probationer/School Officer, Captain of Orienteering, and a member of the Venturers and debating A2 team. His VCE score earned him a place in Arts at Melbourne University. ‘The only subject I was really unhappy with was English. But my ENTER was good enough for the course I wanted, so all ended well.’ Lachie has decided to defer his course to take a gap year in the UK. He has just finished his Queen’s Scout award and once he starts uni, he’s hoping to have more time to go hiking and orienteering. After completing his Arts degree, he’d like to get a job in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and work overseas.

2005 ENTERs	Tertiary offers by type

David Ashton